Where Talent Lies! An African Reproach.

Firstly, I want to share with you, a very pathetic message I received from a follower on facebook.

Hello Sammy,

I’m Harriet, a graduate of Ghana Senior High School, Koforidua. I completed last year. Please I have always had a dream of becoming a fashion designer, since childhood but my father insisted that, he wants me to work as an accountant. For me that’s not my field. The reason been that, I am not academically good. I was repeated three times when i got to my second year in high school. It all began sometime ago, at age 10, when i spotted a child being beaten mercilessly by his teacher, just because he failed in his examination; this instilled fear in me. So since then, i developed this strange fear for my teachers in school. So this caused my failure in class anytime i partake in an examination. But my Dad doesn’t know all this, so all he keeps saying is that “Harriet you know I’m an educationist, look at me, I have three B.Sc. three Master’s degree and a PhD to show. So why don’t you take my footsteps, learn hard and become what i want you to be? If all the time you spend on daily in making this rubbish, were converted to your academic work, by now, you would have been on a very good pedestal. Life is not a joke and without a good results, you are going nowhere.”

Ever since he uttered those words to me, i haven’t being myself, i spend time crying, asking myself if, he is really my biological Dad. why can’t he forget about qualifications and support what i do best in; my passion for being a Fashion designer. He even went ahead to burn all the materials i use for my craft. I feel terrible now. I even won an award for “The Most Creative Student” because of my craft but my Dad got hold of it and destroyed it, saying, he wanted me to win an award for “The Best Overall Student” in school”. In fact, I feel horrible, I give up. I feel like committing suicide. Please Help Me.”

Indeed Parents are in the right position to direct the path of their Children but should we always pay heed to whatever decision they take concerning our lives, i mean our career? So what if that isn’t our chosen field? Will it be a sign of disrespect if a child refuses to take whatever career they choose for him/her. After reading this sad story, I became very worried.. Why do some Parent decide to render their wards useless by choosing a job field for them. Parents are to train, take a very good care of, ensure the well-being of their wards but not to choose for them, a job field. Children must be allowed to choose their career path in life. They know the capabilities/skills they possess.

Life as we see it, is not a joke. Each and every individual has a purpose to live for, a dream/goal to achieve and a mission to accomplish on this earth. Nobody was created without a purpose or a dream. I was watching a movie some weeks ago which actually talks about the pains and ordeals children go through in the hands of their Parents in the quest for a career path. And in this movie, there was a girl whose dad was a Professor and her mother a businesswoman, and this said girl in question, had the gift/talent of making beads and weaving beautiful baskets but her Dad insisted saying “None of my Children must become poor, its either, you change your mind and find something better doing in life, or you leave my house”. This went on and on, until, one day, the girl couldn’t bear the agony she was going through and committed suicide. So then, whose fault was it? Who caused it? Was it her Dad or herself?

American educator, author, businessman, and keynote speaker, Stephen Covey, in one of his Inspirational quote said “when you engage in a work that taps your talent and fuels your passion-that rises out in a great need in the world that you feel drawn by conscience to meet-therein lies your voice, your calling, your soul’s code”.

Parents need to understand that, you don’t have to be a Doctor, an Accountant or a Teacher to be successful, being a Fashion Designer, a Writer, Musician, can make you Successful. It all depends on how diligent you are with your work.

A Message to the Youth

Your time is limited. So don’t waste it living someone Else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma- which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Never let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Hard work and determination will show your Altitude in life. Never be discouraged. Take control of your destiny. You have a lot to bless the world with; your gifts, skill and all that you have inside of you. You are destined to reign. Follow your passion and you will achieve. You Can..You Will..